Distilling apparatus for reclaiming used lubricating oils



Aug. 14, 1934. F. E. SYMONS ET AL DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMINC- USED LUBRICATING 0 ILS Filed March 25 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l gwucntow dymorzs Cow i Z Z 1934- F. E. sYMoNs ET AL 1,970,346

DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR RECLAIM ING USED LUBRICATING OILS Filed March 25. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue'ntold FEJmomr FMUowy-zlll 1934- F. E, sYMoNs ET AL 1,970,346

DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING USED LUBRICATING OILS Filed March 25, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a I gwumdou fi l 9' Edy 2720726 MCOwji/Z Z Aug. 14, 1934.

F. E. SYMONS ET AL DISTILLING'APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING USED LUBRICATING OILS Filed March 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 n u I A a b 3 4 0 U n ii a a J .5 {Y n 0 Q U gmentm Z8 FEdymons Cawyz'ZZ Aug. 14, 1934. F. E. sYMoNs ET AL 1,970,346

DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING USED LUBRICATING OILS Filed March 25 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNlTED S'I'A'TES DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING USED LUBRHCATING orr s Francis E. Symons and Frank M. Oowgill, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to lltalston Steel Car Company, Ollie Qolumbiis, Ohio, a corporation of Application March 25, 1932, Serial No. 601,168 '13 Claims. (Ql. 19( i -1Q4 This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for reclaiming used lubricating oils, and has for its primary object the provision ofan improved still for effecting through distillation 5 the removal of low boiling liquids or compounds from a given body of lubricating oilwhereby to restore the viscosity and other lubricating properties of the oil m permit of its reuse in the same manner as a new lubricating oil.

It is another, object of the invention to provide a distilling apparatus of the character set forth whereinpiovision is made for introducing hydro carbon gas 'into'the oil undergoing distillationin such a manner as to facilitate the distilling operation andto efiect, in an efficient and effective manner, the removal of the. undesired low boiling constituents or diluents which are normally con taineddn'the on undergoing such distillation.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination of elements and arrange: ments 9f a her in f e u l d s bed, and pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the distilling apparatus comprising the; present invention;

Fig. 2 isan enfd elevation thereof j Fsi a t n ve er i' lseetiq v w taken h ough he i l i he 1 -3 of iee 3 a or on al se tio Vi w aken through the inlet header of the still;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the still on the plane indicated by'the line 5, 5 of Fig. i and disclosing more particularly the transverse configuration of the'header and the means employed for mounting the same in connection withthe lower portion of the sun;

Fig/ 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 6+6 of Fig. disclosing the gas inlet pipes arranged in the loottorn of the still;

Fig. 7 is a detail view' taken on the line 17;? of Fi 6 disclosing the means for retaining the positions of't'he free ends'o fth e gas inlet pipes of the still; 7

Fig. 3 is a. transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2 and'disclosihg more particularly the gas expansion'charnber arranged above theviapor condenser" of the appa- IEO r m 1.7

Fig. 9 is a detail longitudinal sectional View taken through'the gasprelieater and the'vapor outlet ofthestill, A Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view Ont-h lm? 9: 9 ii-159;

v F is Fig. 9.

The distilling apparatus comprising the present invention has been particularly described for use in the rejuvenation of 'iised lubrlcatii'igoils. It is known that after lubricating oils havebeeri employed in,' for examplainternal combustion engines, the oils lose'their viscosity by having ad'- mixed therewith unburned low boiling "motor fuels, carbon, water and other incidental impuri ties, and it is the purpose of the presenti'nven'tion carbon gas's'team, or other inert gaseousfiuid.

By this step of distillation, the low boiling compounds' present in the'oils are removed as vapors, particularly compounds 'such as water, gasoline and in certain instances kerosene,' whereby to leave in the still a residue composed of viscous a similar Vie on t line r -1 of liquid hydrocarbons constituting lubricating oil fractions. These latter fractions are thenwithdrawn from the stilland have admixed therewith fullers' 'ea'rth 'or activatedclay and this oil-clay mixture is advanced under pressure toa filter press for'th'e purpose of removing from the oils those compounds which tend to discolor the same, whereby the expressed oils will possess all of the attributes of freshly made high grade'lu'bricating oils and are capable of being placed tothe same serv r The present invention deals more particularly with the apparatus employed for effecting the distillation of "the acid treated'oilsfor the purpose of "removing the low boiling diluent, the

processes a whole being set forth in our '00- pending application, Serial No. 600,197, filing date March 22; 1932, and the details of our improved 'filt'er'pr's's, Serial NOfoQQA 'ZO filing date March 1'7;'1'932. V A 'As shown in Fig. 1, our improved still comprises a setting orfurnace structure 1 of suitable'hea't retaining walls and in this instance the interior ofithe setting is provided with a grate structure 2 adapted for the burning of solid fuel. It will be understood, however, that other heat developing appliances, such as oil or gas burners, may be used if desired for securing necessary distillation temperatures. The distillation zone of the still comprises a metallic structure formed to include a bottom wall 3 arranged over the grate 2 and disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, the said wall 3 being supported by the upper portion of the burner setting. Secured to and arising from the wall 3 are inner and outer spaced metallic shells 4 and 5 respectively, a structural spacing member 6 being interposed between the inner and outer shell to maintain the latter in rigidly assembled yet spaced relationship. If desired, the outer shell may be provided with suitable heat insulating material (not shown) to reduce heat losses, although the spacing of they shells is of material assistance in this respect. The upper portion of the inner shell a is provided with a vapor dome 7 and extending downwardly through this dome and terminating immediately above the bottom wall 3 is an oil inlet pipe 8. By means of this pipe, acid'treated oil is introduced into the shell 4 to a desired amount. After which, the distillation proceeds on the batch principle, as is common in shell stills. The oper ation of the furnace structure 1 is carried out in such a manner as to heat the oil in the distillation any substantial cracking of the oil pass upwardly into the dome '7 and are removed as formed from the still by way of the vapor outlet 9 communicating with said dome. Usually the distillation is carried on at ordinary or atmospheric pressures,

.= although it is within the range of the invention to employ sub-atmospheric pressures or in certain instances superatmospheric pressures. With the employment of sub-atmospheric pressures in the still lower temperatures of distillation may obtain thus removing the possibility of overheating or cracking the oil, which would interfere with its value as a lubricant.

To facilitate the distillation process, the present invention provides for the introduction of a gaseous fluid into theoil disposed within the shell 4 whereby to promote heat transfer and to assist in carrying on the undesired low boiling compounds. A preferred structure for accomplishing this purpose consists in the provision of a plurality of horizontally disposed pipes 10 which extend transversely over the bottom wall 3. These pipes are provided with spaced perforations 11 so that a gas supplied to the pipes from a common header 12 will issue from the perfora- 3 tions and pass upwardly through the body of oil contained in the still. Natural or artificially produced hydrocarbon gas may be used for this purpose and in certain instances superheated steam. i

As shown in Fig. 5, the still walls, adjacent to the header '12, are provided with a longitudinally extending opening 13 and a closure plate 14 is detachably connected with the outer. walls of the still through the use of positioning studs 15. A gasket 16 is preferably interposed between the plate 14 and the wall of the still. Also arranged to engage with the plate 14 is'an outer gasket 18, the latter being interposed between the-outer surfaces of the plate 14. and the inner surfaces of the header 123 This header preferably provides a unitary casting having its upper portion boiling compounds which the oil contains.

and the inner wall of the header provided with hinged ears 19, which register with corresponding ears formed in connection with hinged brackets 20, which are secured to the outer walls of the still. The header has cast therein a longitudinally extending horizontally disposed passage 21, which is provided with a plurality of laterally disposed communicating slots 22, which register with the inlet openings of each of the pipes 10. Gas is admitted into the passage 21 by way of a gas supply pipe 23 which, adjacent to the header, is provided with a header coupling 24. By this arrangement gas may flow lengthwise of the passage 21 and'thence into each of the laterally disposed slots 22, entering the pipes and issuing from said pipes through the perforations 11 formed therein whereby to pass through the body of oil contained in the still, agitating the oil and liberating freely the low The ends of the pipe 10 opposite to the header 12 are provided with caps 25 which are frictionally held in engagement with the upper surface of the bottom wall 3 by the employment of resilient strips 26, which serve to confine the free ends of said pipes and prevent undue movement on the part thereof. lower portions of the header 12 are provided with slotted lugs 2'7, which receive the shanks of pivotally movable bolts 28, the latter being pivotally carried as at 29 by bracketssecured to the walls of the furnace structure 1. The bolts 28 have their outer ends threaded for the reception of binding nuts 30, by means of which the header may be retained in firm frictional engagement with the outer gasket 18 and also the plate 14 may be similarly retained in fluid tight engagement with the inner gasket 16 and the wall of the still adjacent to the opening 13. If it is desired to remove the pipes 10 for cleaning and other purposes, the nut 30 may be loosened, permitting of the dropping of the bolt 28. Then by disconnecting the pipe, such as the gas supply pipe 23 entering the header, the said header may be swung outwardly and upwardly about the pintles of the ears 19 and the pipes may be withdrawn by applying outwardly directed forces on the plate 14 in connection with which the pipes are carried. This provides free access to the longitudinally extending opening 13 in the bottom of the still permitting of the removal of accumulated deposits or residues from the bottom of the still whenever required.

After distillation has been carried on for the required period of time to remove the volatiles from the oils and to reduce the latter to the desired degree of viscosity, the volatile freed oils 4 may be removed from the bottom of the still by way of outlet ports 31 formed in the plate 14 12. Normally these ports are closed by means of needle valves 32 which are provided with threaded bodies33 receivable within correspondingly threaded seats provided in connection with the ports 31. The valveseach include outwardly and horizontally extending stems 34, which are positioned within packed glands 35 carried in connection with the outer wall of the header. By rotating the stems 3d, the needle valves may be removed from engagement with their seats providing for free oil flow through the ports 31 and thence into an oil duct 36 formed longitudinally within the header of discharge.

To supply the pipes 10 with the hydrocarbon gases, use is made of a supply line 38 shown particu'larlyin Fig. 2". Thisline is provided with a check valve 39 and gas from anysuitable source or supply, such a city gas main,is permitted to flow through the line 38, past the control valve 40 and thence upwardly into an expansion chamber 41. In this chamber any water contained in the gas is trapped and removed from the chamber by way of the drain line 42, the latter being valved as at 43. Mounted on the top of the chamber 41 is a compressor or pump 4 which in this instance is driven by an electric motor 45. The discharge side of the compressor or pump is connected with a pipe line 46 provided with a valved by-pass 47 returning to the expansion chamber 41, the said by-pass serving to maintain desired pressure on the gas discharge through the line 46 and may be said to relieve automatically excessive pressures. The pipe line 46, as shown especially in Fig. 9, leads to apreheater 48 which, in the present instance, comprises a drum arranged to surround the va- IpOI outlet 9 of the dome '1. The gases entering the preheater from the pipe line 46 are caused, by means of a baflie 49, to pass longitudinally through the preheater in contact with the pipe line 50 leading from the outlet 9. This results in increasing the temperature of the gas and to a certain extent cooling the vapors, thereby promoting the heat economy of the system. The

gases discharged from the preheater travel by way of the pipe line 51 to the vertically extending pipe 23 which enters or communicates with the gas supply passage of the header 12. The pipe line 51 and the supply pipe 23 may be provided with an exterior coating of heat insulating material to minimize heat loss. Likewise the header itself may be similarly coated.

The gases and vapors of low boiling liquids are passed through the pipe line 50 to a cooling coil and condenser 52 arranged in'a casing structure 53 which is also used to effect the support to the expansion chamber 41. In the condenser 52, the temperature of the fluids discharged from the still is reduced sufficiently below the vaporizing point of such fluid as to liquefy the normally liquefiable constituents thereof. These liquids and gases pass from the condenser by way of a valved outlet 54 and are delivered to a cylindrical tank 55 arranged on one side of the casing structure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bottom of the tank is provided with a liquid drawoff line 56 and a gauge glass 57 may be provided at one side of the tank to indicate the liquid levels therein. The gases drawn off the top of the tank pass by way of a valve pipe line 58 to the expansion chamber and the inlet side of the pump or compressor 44 arranged on the top of the expansion chamber, in order that such gases may be returned to the distillation system for use therein. This feature of recycling the gases eiiects a very considerable economy in the operation of the system and maximum efiiciency. The pipe line 58 may be alsoprovided. with a valved shunt 59 permitting of the withdrawal of gas from the system when desired.

The base of the casing structure is provided with an electric motor 60 which is used to effect the. operation of a pump 61 and to the-inlet side of this pump there is connected the pipe line 62 for delivering the oils to be. processed to the distiliation zone. Preferably, this is a lubricating oil which has been previously acid treated, as explained above. The outlet side of the pump 61 is connected with a valved pipe line 63, which leads to the. oil inlet pipe 8 extending through the dome 7. The bottom of the casing structure, below the condenser 52 is provided with a reser voir 64, and the liquid oil removed from the bottom of the still by way of the header 12, and from which low boiling compounds have been removed, is connected with the outlet pipe 3'7, in order that such lubricating oils of desired viscosity may be transferred from the still to the reservoir 64' for cooling and storage. The outlet of the reservoir is connected with the inlet side of a pump 65, the operation of which is effected through the motor 60. By means of the pump 65, the cooled lubricating oil fraction which, while possessing the desired viscosity and freedom iroin low boiling diluent, yet ordinarily possesses adarkened and undesirable color, and the pump 65 is used to transfer this oil to a filter press, as shown in our copending Patent No. 1963368 whereby the oil may be treated to effect the removal of these undesired color compounds and to impart to the finished oil the desired coloration. Starting switches 66 may be mounted on the sides of th casing structure for the purpose of controlling the operation of the electric motors .5 and (it). Preferably, the bottom wall of the expansion chamber is inclined to provide for the gravity drainage of water or other liquids which may accumulate within said chamber.

In view of the foregoing, it-will be seen that "the present invention provides a still of particu larly economical and efficient construction for use in the reclamation of used lubricating oils, although in its broader aspects, the still may be used in connection with any other desired distillation operation and we contemplate the use of our invention in any field or specific use to which it may be adapted; While the still has been disclosed in its preferred form, nevertheless it will be appreciated that its construction as herein depicted and described is subject to considerable variation and, therefore, we claim as our invention all such modifications thereof as may be said to fall within the scope of the fol lowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A still comprising a liquid holding shell, means for heating the shell and liquid contained therein, said shell being provided contiguous to its lower portion with a longitudinally extending opening, a header movably secured in fiuid tight engagement with the walls of said shell and engaging with the portions of said shell immediately surrounding said opening, said header side with a longitudinally extending opening, a

header movably secured'in fluid tight engagement with the walls of said shell immediately adjacent to said opening, said header being provided with a longitudinally extending gas inlet passageway and a spaced liquid outlet passagewaypa -plurality of perforated pipes positioned -1 "Zil in said shell and communicating with the gas inlet passageway of the header, means for removing vapors from the upper portion of the sheil, and valve means for removing liquids from the lower portion of the shell through ports provided in conjunction with said header, and controlling communication between said shell and said liquid outlet passageway.

3. In a still, a liquid holding shell, means for heating liquids contained within the shell, said shell being provided with a vapor outlet in its upper portion and with a longitudinally extending liquid outlet in its lower portion, a header removably secured to said shell contiguous to said liquid outlet, clamping means cooperative with said header for normally maintaining the same in fluid tight engagement with the side walls of the shell, said header being provided with a longitudinally extending gas passageway,

a plurality of perforated pipes mounted in the lower portion of said shell and communicating at one end with the gas passage provided in the header, and valve mechanism provided in connection with said header for eifecting the removal of liquids from said shell.

e. In a still, a liquid holding shell provided at one side with a longitudinally extending opening,

means forheating liquids contained within the shell to distillation temperatures, a movable header carried by said shell and normally closing said opening, said header being provided with spaced fluid inlet and discharge passages, means for introducing a gaseous fluid into the liquids contained within said shell through the inlet passage provided in said header, and valve means carried by said header for governing the outflow of liquid from said shell through the discharge passage provided in said header.

5. In a still, a liquid holding shell, means for heating liquids contained in said shell to distillation temperatures, vapor outlet means provided in the upper portion of said shell, a liquid outlet in the lower portion of said shell, a pivotally mounted header carried by said shell and. normally serving to close said opening, and means provided in said header for introducing a gaseous fluid into theliquids contained within the shell.

6. In a still, a liquid holding shell, means for heating liquids contained in said shell to distillation temperat res, vapor outlet means provided in connection with the upper portion of said shell, a liquid outlet in the lower portion of said shell, a pivotally mounted header carried by said shell and normally serving to close said outlet, gas inlet means formed in said header for introducing a gaseous fluid into the liquids contained within the shell, and valve means for regulating the outflow of liquid from said shell through discharge passages formed in said header and spaced from the gas inlet means.

I. In .an oil still, a liquid containing shell, means for heating liquids contained within the shell to distillation temperatures, a vaporoutlet leading from the upper portion of said shell, means for introducing a liquid to be distilled into the lower portion of said shell, said shell being provided at one side thereof contiguous to its lower portion with a longitudinally extending liquid outlet opening, a header detachably clamped to the outer wall of said shell immediately adjacent to said opening, means for introducing a gaseous fluid into the liquid contained within said shell through passages provided in said header, and valve controlled means for removing liquids from said shell through a separate set of passages provided in said header.

8. In a still, a liquid holding shell provided with a substantially flat bottom and upstanding side walls, means for heating liquids contained within said shell to distillation temperatures, said shell contiguous to the bottom thereof being provided along one side with alongitudinally extending opening, a header removably secured to the outer wall of said shell immediately contiguous to said opening and normally serving to close the latter, said header being provided with a longitudinally extending passage formed with a plurality of laterally extending branches, transversely extending perforated pipes arranged within said shell and extending transversely across the bottom thereof, said pipes beingconnected at one end to the header in communication with said lateral branches, means for supplying said passages with a gaseous fluid for delivery to the liquid contained within said shell through said perforated pipe, and valve means carried by said header for controlling the outflow of liquid from said shell through ports communicating with a liquid discharge passage formed in said header.

9. In a still, a liquid holding shell provided with a substantially flat bottom and upstanding side walls, means for heating the shell, said shell be-- ing provided along one side thereof contiguous to said bottom with a longitudinally extending opening, a plate arranged exteriorly of the shell to close said opening; a plurality'of perforated pipes connected with said plate and extending transversely across and immediately adjacent to the bottom of said shell, a h ader secured in connection with said plate and the outer walls of said shell, said header being provided with a longitudinall extending passage, the said passage being provided with laterally extending branches leading to each of said pipes, means for introducing a gaseous fiuid'into the passage of said header for issuance from the perforations provided in said pipes into the liquid of the shell, said header being provided with a separate liquid outlet passage extending longitudinally therethrough, and a plurality of independently operable valve means for governing the opening and closing of ports establishing communication between the interior of said shell and the liquid outlet passage of the header.

10. In a still, a liquid holding shell formed to comprise a substantially flat bottom wall and spaced upstanding side walls, a vapor outlet in the upper portion of said shell, means for heating said shell and the liquids contained therein, said shell being provided contiguous to said bottom and along one side thereof with a longitudinally extending opening, a'removable closure arranged exteriorly of said shell and normally serving to close said opening, means for introducing a gaseous fluid into said closure for travel through a longitudinal passage provided therein, a plurality of perforated pipes connected with said closure and communicating with said passage whereby to deliver said gaseous fluid to the liquids contained within the shell, and valve means bodily carried by said closure for controlling the outflow of liquid from said shell through spaced liquid outlet passages provided in the closure.

11. In a still, a shell formed to comprise a substantially flat horizontally disposed lower wall and upstanding vertical side walls, one of said side walls being provided adjacent to the lower portion of the shell with a longitudinally extending slot, a hinged closure carried by the exterior of said shell and normally serving to close said slot, and valve means mounted in conjunction with said closure for regulating the outflow of liquid from said shell through a passageway formed iongitudinally in said closure.

12. In a still, a shell provided contiguous to its bottom with a longitudinally extending slot, a hinged closure member for said slot arranged exteriorly of the shell said closure member being provided with a discharge passage arranged to register with said slot, threaded means for maintaining said closure member in fluid sealing en gagement with the side walls of said shell and, valve mechanism supported by said closure member for regulating the outflow of liquid from said shell through the discharge passage provided in the closure member.

13. In a still, a liquid holding shell provided along one side thereof with a longitudinally extending slot, a closure member provided with fluid passages hingedly connected with one of the exterior walls of said shell, threaded means cooperative with the closure member for maintaining the latter in fluid sealing engagement with the walls of said shell immediately surrounding said slot, and valve means carried by said closure member for regulating the outflow of liquid from said shell through the passages provided in the closure member.

FRANCIS E. SYMONS.

FRANK M. COWGILL. 

